Crate.



PATBNTED JAN. 16, 1906.

D. GIBBS.

CRATE.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 4, 1905.

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D. GIBBS.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 4, 1905.. l

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DAVID enses, or LivoNIA. New YORK..

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Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented Jan. 1G, 1906-;y j'

Application filed April 4,1905. Serial No. 253,853.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID GIBBS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Livonia, in the county of Livingston, Stat-e of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to crates, and more particularly to the class of folding crates, the object of the invention being to provide a construction which may be folded to occupy an extremely small space for shipment, which may be easily and quickly set up, and which will be rigid and durable.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 isa perspective view of the crate set up, the lid being open. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken transversely through the crate set up with the lid closed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the crate with the lid closed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the crate folded.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a crate comprising a bottom 5, having upon its upper face and adjacent to its side edges the longitudinal sills 6 and 7, the sill 6 being somewhat higher than the sill 7, for a purpose to be presently explained. At each end of the bottom 5 is an end for the crate. Each end of the crate comprises two uprights 8 and 9, which are connected to stand upon the bottom by means of hinges 10. The uprights are connected by means of slats 11, secured against their outer faces. 'Ihe ends of the crate are disposed between the sills 6 and 7 and are adapted. to be swung inwardly and downwardly to lie upon the bottom and below the upper faces of the sills. Upon the sill 7 is hinged a side to the crate, comprising uprights 12, connected by means of longitudinal slats 13, secured against the inner faces of the uprights, hinges 14 being secured to the lowermost slat and to the inner face of the sill, soA that the crate side may be folded inwardly and downwardly to lie against the inwardly and downwardly folded ends of the crate. side of the crate, comprising uprights 14', against the inner face of which are secured slats 15, the side being connected to the sill 6 Upon the sill 6 is disposed the rear by means of hinges 16, attached to the inner faces of the lowermost slat and the sill. This provides for permitting the rear side to be folded inwardly and downwardly upon the front side. Against the inner faces of the slats of the sides of the crate are secured the vertical strips 16 and 17, respectively, which form stops against which the outer faces of the slats of the ends rest when the sides and ends are in erect or unfolded positions, so that the ends are prevented from swinging out- Wardly beyond the vertical.

In the inner face of the .top slat 15 of the rear side of the crate are engaged staples 18, which pass also through the end uprights 14, and pivotally connected with these staples are hooks, which when the crate is set up are removably engaged, respectively, with staples 19, engaged through the topmost slat 13 of the front side of the crate and through the end uprights 12. In these positions the hooks rest against the inner faces of the uprights 8 of the crate ends and hold them from folding inwardly and downwardly in the direction of thebottom of the crate. When the crate is to be folded, the hooks are disengaged from the staples 19 and are swung into position against the top slat 15 and are engaged with the staple 20, which is driven into the top slat 15 and the middle upright 14 of the rear side of the crate.

In folding the crate, as will be inferred from the above description, the ends are first swung inwardly and downwardly upon the' bottom, the front side is then swung rearwardly and downwardly upon the ends, and the rear side is then swung forwardly and downwardly upon the front side. A lid for the crate consisting of slats 25 and connecting cross-pieces 26 is connected with the rear side of the crate by means of hinges 27, that are attached to said cross-pieces and to the outer faces of the uprights 14, so that the-lid may be swung into position upon the upper edges of the ends and sides when the crate is set up and when the crate is folded may be swung against the outer face of the rear side.

What is claimed is- As an article of manufacture, a crate comprising a bottom, sides connected with the bottom for movement into and out of operative position, said ysides having vertical strips against their inner faces adjacent to their ends, ends hinged to the bottom for movement to rest at times thereupon and at times IOO to extend upwardly therefrom and to rest the inner faces of the ends to prevent inward against the inner faces of the strips when the movement of the latter.

sides are in erect position, long hooks pivot- In testimony whereof I aHX my signature in ally connected with one of the sides inwardly presence of two witnesses.

5 of its end strips and in spaced relation therehis to, and hook-receiving eyes carried by the i DAVID GIBBS. other side inwardly of its end strips and mark in spaced relation thereto, said hooks being Witnesses: adapted for engagement in the eyes and when E. E. BOYNTON,

IO in such position, being arranged to lie against ELBERT LONG. 

